When Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says he believes Tony Romo will quarterback a Super Bowl team and has another five years to play, it sure sounds like’s trying to build up some trade value.
Because to figure out what the Cowboys could get for Romo — whose emotional concession speech to star rookie Dak Prescott was “not a goodbye,” Jones told reporters Thursday — you have to start by considering the conversation that would take place elsewhere.
“Imagine me going to (the owner) and saying, ‘Listen, I’m going to make a trade for a 36-year-old that’s got back issues that’s a backup,’ ” one NFL general manager told USA TODAY Sports this week. “He’d be like, ‘You’re crazy.’ ”
Executives in personnel from five other NFL teams — all speaking on condition of anonymity because they’re not allowed to publicly discuss another team’s player — echoed concerns about considering Romo anything more than a one-year flyer, given his age and the injuries that have limited him to four starts over the past two seasons. That drives down the price.
But the message from those execs was clear: In a QB-deficient league, there would be a market if the Cowboys try to trade Romo, who returns from another back injury as Prescott’s backup Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. It’s just a matter of how much a team is willing to gamble.
If you think you can win now, and the list of free-agent options starts with Jay Cutler (assuming he’s cut), Colin Kaepernick (assuming he voids his contract), Ryan Fitzpatrick, Case Keenum, Mike Glennon, EJ Manuel, Brian Hoyer, Blaine Gabbert, Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith, why not at least consider a four-time Pro Bowl pick who had his best season in 2014?
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SOURCE: Tom Pelissero
USA TODAY Sports
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